The Sun. — London, England, 1818-01-01 00:00:00

1 - 0 THE kitt ENDS AND READERS " THE SUN." I this "twilight of two years," as DONN& quaintly, though not inelegantly, ex presses it, there is a good old custom with periodical Publishers, to tetottt their acknowle4:nienis for the patron age of the past, and to proffer their promises for the efforts of the future year. The Proprietor of THE SUN will blend together these gratifying offices, and manifest his sense of past distinction by futittt exertion. Too ntai►y years have now elapsed to require, or indeed to justify, any professions on his part. Without either comparison or allusion, he claims for his Journal the proud privilege ,of CONSIST ENCY ; an* willingly he leaves to Whosoever de sires such a merit, the attractiotrOC,temporary principles and unstable opinions.:WttAtam PITT was, and is, and ever will be, his CYNOSURE HE CONSTITUTION his- LANDMARK ; the Pio. TE'STANT BiTABLISHMENT his BULWARK. In de love of these, neither the Ministry nor the Op position of the day will influence his persevering duty; and the concurrent terms of PurEET and SEDITION Will be the objects of his ceaseless hostility. Such has been the principle of THE SUN ; and such it shall ever rem-tin while it is in his hands. They whO think it deserving of their favour, mutt therefore be the admirers of Wit.t.1.04 PITT, the friends of THE CONSTITUTION, and the supporters of the ESTA,BLISUMENT. They who vituperate our departed Statesman, who clamour after Re form, and who vindicate POPERY, are not here so licited for any favour, since here they skill not meet with any gratification. This language becomes A CONSISTENT PAPER, and it coeld mot be ventured by any other. THE SUN, however, now that its arrangements are wholly within the power of the present Pro prietor, may assume new features of merit, and claim an encrease of fair and honourable attrac tion. Fur this purpose, he desires to render it emphatically, THE PAPER OF THE EMPIRE ; and that, as the natural SUN diffuses light and beat over the Universe, so the political Sox should spread its Vital influence over the British State, and be the centre of at once receiving and of dif fusing political and moral illumination. Without a metaphor—the Proprietor proposes, that upon the opening of this New Year, a cer tain portion of THE SUN Newspaper shall he de voted to extracts, the sources whereof shall be faithfully acknowledged, from the several Pro vincial Journals ; by which the Cause of Social Order, and of the PROTESTANT RELIGION, is vin dicated. Thus, through the medium of the Me tropolitan Paper, THE SUN, the wisdom, the loyalty, theyatriotistu, and the virtue of every district, will bt first concentrated into itself, and thence dispersed over the Empire. Thus, time honest men of every part will know where to find their friends, evert in the most distant points ; while the east and the west, the south and the north, are brought together for the hest purposes of encouragement, and,strength, and union. And thus, the powerful engine of, a FREE PRESS will become yet more powerful in the rectitude of its purpose, and in the pervac:ing extent of its operation. In the attainment of these important objects, it will be an adequate recompence, and a suffi eiect for THE Sun„ and for its Conductor, to have assumed so leading and so effective .a plrt. The Readers of this Journal will regularly find in its columns, tinder an emphatic and conapre b ensive title—" THE COUNTRY,"—extracts from every Provincial Journal, which, by the due choice of its topics, becomes worthy of perusal 1)&1010 its own immediate and local circulation. It is purposed also, that T E SUN may still more rxtended!y be THE PAPER OF THE EMPIRE, to devote a sufficient portion of its columns, as oc casion may lder, to the affairs of the Colonies, and to the satisfaction of such Englishmen who are more particularly interested in those remote valoahle Possessions. " THE COLONIES," t efore, will be the leading title of this depart ri:try ; anti will always be found in THE SUN., to 0: tea as communications of sufficient interest ocenv• The Proprietor will not longer detain his friends ith statements and professions. His character his long been before them ; and its undeviating principle. What he has here promised, will be gratefully and diligently performed. • CoIiRTENIY, since he left England, has by the sale of ,his property in Iceland •,.3 less a sum that 00,0001. Dog/Tort, of Drury-lane, benevolently g;vcs (he profits of an evening's performance at ISe-Maidt , :otte Theatre for the relief of the poor 4,:t)kot in the gaol of that•LVVII. • THE COUNTRY. PROVINCIAL JOURNALS. (Front 7"e Royal Cornwall Gazette of the 26th ult.) " TRIALS OF WILLIAM HONE. " I'RO FOCIS ET MILS. " On Saturday last these long expected trials were terminated, and all decided in favour of the defendant. We have introduced a summary of them in our first page. As they involve many questions of great political interest, they afford matter for deep and serious reflection. We shall ever revere the verdict of a jury formed on that equitable basis which our Legislature has uni formly maintained, am' sincerely rejoice at the exculpation of a prisoner, when declared innocent by that admirable.trilmual. The result of these trials is not contrary to our anticipations. We always considered that pecuniary motives in a great measure influenced the individual in ques tion to the publication of such defamatory and injurious works. .The information filed against the defendant, stated that he was guilty of print ing and publishing profane and impious parodies ; but no malicious or evil intent being proved against hint, and the system being justified by long precedent, he was necessarily acquitted.— The verdict has been received by the country, we pt.( some, with very different sensations, accord ing to the political or religious feelings of each individual. From the personal intercourse we have had with Mr. Hone, we never conceived him to be an irreligious man. However his poli tical tenets might be opposed to ours, still we.al ways considered him a sincere Christian. Under the same impressions, we hesitate not to say, the Jury have.returned a verdict of acquittal. This is a corroboratise proof, amongst innumerable others, of the extent of freedom enjoyed by a British subject, io cases betwixt himself and the Crown, and exposes the calumnious misrepre sentations of those writers who are continually raving against the legislative measures of the ad ministration. What can be more convincing than this, that every advantage is possessed by the de fendant, and the strictest justice maintained by the Officers of the Crown ? NVhere is now the illega lity of the proceedings practised by the Master of the Crown Office ? We are mote fully confiirned in the opinion we have uniformly stated, that in striking a special Jury, for charges of a political nature, the defendant possesses every advantage. He is at liberty to strike 12 from the 48 original-, ly chosen ; by this means he may be acquitted of the grossest libel, by obtaining even one juryman of anti-ministerial principles ; if we may be al lowed to suppose that political sentiments ever bias the decision of a Jury in these cases. In fact,. to such an extent has this kind of freedom arrived, that another step would convert it into anarchy, and wrest the sword of justice from its administratms. Notwithstanding the acquittal of Mr. Hone, we confidently assert that no legisla tive tribunal in the world, except an English one, would have suffered bin to escape with impunity. At no period of our own history did the libeller possess the extensive privileges which the present law of libel allows him. We wish to elucidate this subject, in consequence of the frequent mis representations -of our Opposition Journalists, and to dwell on it longer than we otherwise might. The bAeient law of libel did not differ from other criminal law ; but when the invention of printing bad introduced political discussion, and seditious publicatious made their appearance, the control of the press was placed under the direc tion of a Licenser (similar to the Censor of France), and the Kihg's Attorney-General, who tried the causes ill tout inittaosos court the Star Chamber, so called from its roof being studded with stars ; where the unfortunate author or printer generally fell a victim to their iron grasp. Let those modern vociferators for our ancient Constitution revert to rhis period, and learn to value the inestimable privileges we enjoy. Even for a long period after ex-officio informations were transferred to the Court of King's Bench, the Jury bad only to be convinced of the fact of printing and publishing, in order to convict the defendant. " The case of Woodfall, who was prosecuted in 1774, for the publication of Junius's Letters, occurs to our recollection, which caused consider able litigation between Lord Mansield and others, whether the verdict of guilty of publishing only, amounted to conviction, or to an acquittal. in consequence of this uncertainty h the law of libel, Fox and Erskine introduced a bill into Pat!lament which ultimately received its sanction, for justly defining the law of libel, and allowing the Jury to judge of the law as well as the fact. We conceive that admirable statute to afford every indulgence to the defendant, and to allow the utmost ext en t of freedom, that society could possibly tolerate.— This statute was adverted to both by the Attor ney-General and Mr. Hone in the recent trial. ' As it has mainly contributed to the acquittal of the defendant, we present the substance as near as our recollection will permit ; rOr we quote from memory alone. It enacts that a Jury may give a verdict, upon - the whole matter put in issue by the indictment,' which proposes four questions for consideration Did the defendant publish the pamphlet that lots been produced in evidence ?- 2. Is the sense ascribed to the passage, inserted in the indictment, by the inuendoes, the true and genuine sense ?-3. Is the work, even if that sense be a proper one, a scandalous, malicious, Mani matory, seditious, (or blasphemous) libel Did the defendant publish the work with the cri minal motives and intentions imputed by the in dictment ?—lt is evident from these four pies tions that a verdict of guilty MUSE he com pounded of an answer to each in the affirmative. We are confidently persuaded that Clone was guilty of the three first charges, and the fourth alone must have induced the Jury to acquit the defendant, according to ourexpectations'; such extensive privileges does a British subject enjoy in all contentions with the Crown. We are firmly persuaded Oita his Majesty's Ministers have long viewed the rapid progress of seditious and blas phemous publications with the•most foreboding apprehensions, anti though they hive tolerated them too long, to avoid the imputation of tyranny, still a consciousness of duty, and anxiety for the safety of their country, have at length impel d them to arrest the progress of sedition and blas phemy. Every friend of social order must neces sarily consider them as the guardians of the na tion, and expect them to ensure its safety, by any measures that may conduce to that end. It re sponsibility wit bout authority be attached to them, it is exposing them at once to the merciless lash of the vicious minions of treason and infide lity, which would inevitably be the prelude to anarchy and national convulsion. What can be more terrible in its consequences than the fury of a mob, driven by the whirlwind of the passions. It knows no boundaries ; no misery can soften it-, no penitence assuage it. Reason is extinct ; re monstrance is vain ;- and virtue itself is immolated at its shrine : like the pestilential samiel of the tot rid climes, it overwhelms all in inevitable ruin. What can be more corroborative of these obser vations, than the conduct of that lawless rabble who continually interrupted the proceedings of the present trial, and degraded a Court of Justice by their infamous vociferations. It was doubt less the very spawn of that obnoxious association called The London Corresponding Society ;" to the members of which Mr. Windham gave the ap pellation of acquitted felons,' after escaping the charge of High Treason. We have no hesitation in saying, that there are thousands of that de scription panting to subvert all our civil and reli• gious institutions, and fully prepared to follow the examples of Robespierre, Danton, Brissot, Marat, and other ruthless assassins, who have dis graced human nature in the annals of France. All must admire the conciliating manner exercised by the Lord Chief Justice and the Attorney-General towards Mr. Hone, when he appeared indisposed ; notwithstanding the spirit of irreligion and sedi tion could not restrain its malevolence. " We have observed in that Hydra of the Oppo sition Journals, The Morning Chronicle, an adver tisement to the following e t iect THE P ARODIES. —Preparing fur the Press, WILLIAM HONE'S REPORT of his Three TRIALS, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday last, at Guildhall, London, for publishing THE PARODIES.' " We are likewise informed that posting bills have announced the republication of all the pa rodies. Good God ! is this to be tolerated ? 'Can our Legislature devise no means of arresting the progress of vice and infamy ? Shall Jacobinism and Infidelity stalk triumphant through the land! Shall its contagious effluvia contaminate the sur rounding atmosphere, without a single antidote to resist its baneful effects ! Is an individual, in fluenced by mercenary or anti-ministerial motives, to acdturiulate wealth at the expence of the na tional morality ? and to stab the very vitals of the Constitution, by bringing those valuable institu tions, so dear to a true Briton, into obloquy and contempt / If Mr. Hone perseveres in this con duct, in direct violation of every thing sacred or divine, his evil and impious intention will be evi dent, and we Shall not lament his fate, if at length he incur the resentment of offended Jus tice. If such blasphemous productions are suf fered to offend the public eye, and insult virtue and religion with impunity, we ardently expect , that Parliament will adopt some prompt and de cisive measures for their suppression, in the en suing Session. So strong is our abhorrence and indignation at the very recital of them, that we have determined, in our extracts of the 'Trials, not to profane our columns Witts such infamous trash. " Our readers, we are confident, will indulge us in our protestations, when we boldly affirm; that a brighter specimen of human composition never entered the world, or was ever more con ducive to virtuous and religious emotions, if we except the inspired writings, than the inimitable Liturgy of the Established Church ; its prayers breathe the purest spirit of Christianity, unat tended by the least ascetic intolerance. Our sen timents have not been formed on the impulse of the moment, but front that mature reflection . which confirmed theopinions of a Newton, a Boyle, a Locke, and an Addison. In stating these pro fessions, we wish by no means to detrude those religious communities who may conscientiously differ from us in opinion. If the honest impetus of enthosiesm i in advocating our venerable Church Establishment, should ever stimulate us to undue warmth, we shall ingenuously court the candour of an indulgent public. As champions of the Church and State, which we consider as indissoluble, our weapons shall only be levelled against those sectarian fanatics and political maniacs,who would endanger society by their ignorant innovations; as the medical quack would murder his patient by trying experiments. No individuals defined,lsaresva t h an warmer advocates for lib er ty, when prop e rly ourselves ; bur we contend, that if the dissemi nation of these insidious libels be tolerated, our religious and political institutions sill soon be prostituted at the shrine of anarchy and rebellion, and consequently our persons and property in , perpetual danger. All will rapidly verge to the dreaded Maelstrom of revolutionary horrors. " What is really intolerable, these abominable parodies appear, in a great measure, to be di rected against those eminent dignitaries of the Establishment who have assumed the sacred of 4-ice of the sacerdotal robe, in consequence of their virtue, piety, / and learning. Is it then for this that Cranmer, Hooper, and Latimer sealed their professions with their blood ? Is it for this that a Barnet, a Tillotson, and a Porteus, have de• voted their lives to the improvement of mankind, and dignified human nature with . manly virtue and social excellence? Certainly this is a time when every true Englishman should use his pen in defence of our clearest privileges. Better to submit to the tyranny of a Star-chamber, an Inquisition, or Lettres des ,Cachets, than the de moniacism of an unreflecting mob. May our country never fall a prey to such a calamity. We could defend our venerable Establishment with the courage of lions, and weep like children over their ruins. May they never " fall by the ,wild bands of beastial anarchy." 0 save them ye ministers ; ye monarchs spar e; Ye patriots, guard them with a miser's care, " It society once lose their veneration for the Supreme Governor of. the Universe, in wh om we live, and move, and have our being,' every tie that binds man to man will soon be broken,_... All respect fur sisperiors will cease. Courts ot Justice will be of no further use, and so c i ety must he dissolved ; for that adamantine cli a i u, a Jurors oath, which hinds man to the throne of Eteriuil Just*, is solved before the breath of the blasphemer's mouth.". • ___ -- TFLEATRICAL REGISTER. Performed Lasot Nig ht. THEATRE ROYAL, D RURY - LANF..—Lillipot. After which, Ths Falls of Clyde. To which was added, Harlequin's Vision. THEATRE ROYAL, CoVENT-GAROEN.—She .CtoopS to Conquer : Young Marlow, Mr. C. Ktinhie ; :bliss liartlcastle, Miss Brunton. After which, Hal lequin Gulliver. ARRIVED-1 France, 1 Haniburgh, 1 Du},lin, 1 Waterford. DUE-1 Li s b on , 1 H ain b urgh, 2 Holl.ind, 2 Gotten burgh. CIRCUMCISION—HoIiday at the Bank, Exchequer, East India, and "South Sea Houses. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGF, TOMORROW. Morning, 11 minutes after 9. E.ening, aG aiinates after 9. THE SUN. SOLEM quire DICERE FALSUII AUDEAT LONDON, THURSD.II7, .1.42V17.1111" I, ISIS. We received last night the. Paris Papers of Sun day last, and this morning those of Monday. We give extracts from the former in another Column. The Chamber of Peers commenced on Saturday the discussion on the Projet respecting the Jour nals, and after hearing four of their Members for and against it, adjourned the debate till Monday. The Duke of WELLINGTON arrived at Paris oa Sunday. The Moniteur of Monday publishes as -a law the Projet for the provisional collection of six twelfths of the Taxes. . The following are extracts from Monday's Journals : " PARIS, Dac. 29.—The Duke of Wellington arrived yesterday - at Paiis. His GraCe dined , at his Hotel Rue des Champs Elysees. From' the few persons who accompany him, it is supposed the Duke will not make a long stay. " One of the persons tinder accusation for the robbery committed some time since in the De partment of the Meuse, on Lord Clanwillidm, has made important discoveries, by which means the property stolen has been found in the places where it had been concealed. ‘,€ On the 22d inst. one of the walls of the Theatre at Toulouse, now building, fell down with a tre mendous crash. The workmen fortunately es caped without injury. " Marshals the Duke de Tarente, the Duke ('C Reggio, the Duke de Mune, and the Duki of Ragusa had the honour of breakfasting yesterday with the King. " FIVE PER CENTS; " Saturday 64 1. 50 c. " INsFRUCK, DBC. 170—According to the in telligence from Italy, a definitive arrangement has been concluded between Austria, Sardinia, the Courts of Rome, and Modena, respecting the di vision of the debts of the Monte de Milano. Austria pays 69 per cent., the Holy See 21, Sar dinia 4, and Modena 6. " WAasAw, D e c. 10.---It appears to b e deter mined on that the Emperor will proceed in the month of April to review the army under the orders of Count Benni , sen. The corps of that army will probably be assembled so as to forms two camps, the tith Corps in the environs of Odessa, and the ith near Kaminiech. " LEIPSfC, Dec. 17.—Madame de Krudener expects here Bills of Exchange from Petersburgh, and answer from Berlin, respecting the conti nuing of her journey. She has permission to re main here for six days. She has written to the King of Prussia, to request of him a private au dience ; but it is thought she will neither obtain that nor permission to sojourn at Berlin. Sh e had a project of establishing herself in the Colony of Herrnbut de Nautiefendorf, in the Duchy of Gotha, but she has been compelled to renounce it. " is is also said, that money was sent to her from Weimar, upon condition that she should net pass through that town. The fart is that she camelsere from Erfurt, by the way of Naumbourg. Her suite consists of 15 persons." Baltimore Papers to the Ist December, Phila delphia to the 30th November, New York to the 27th do., Washington to the 29111 do., am! Charleston to the 26th do., arrived this morning. EXTRACT GE A LETTERRaom S T, MARY'S, !40V.25. " The affairs of Fernandi a are very a l arm i ng . The Court-martial are s it t i ng to try a ll o ff e:l d ers: they have arrested several on trifling pretences MIRY does not seem disposed to form a Consti tution, Nor establish Civil Authority. The Li berating Army have completely enslaved for the present those that were free : they now look to the United States as the only source of happiness. As they expect to hear d a ily of their taking pus session of the Floridan, the PriZe've"els continue to come in, and all kinds of provi).ions arc to be had." h iniellifencer of the 28th Nov. sta T te h f e , alVel IlAs issued an order, requiring 1,001 ,31 the. of tivat ! - A". S II 4 .1 l't pa' 111 E to the de ( lea dei api Lo Nei be Ti Tr( 10( bit th; kr) / vat cal imp bee lulu